GFP and chromatography
Open your materials, follow the steps, then turn in your work.
Explain how GFP and chromatography let you track and separate a target protein.
1. Open your materials
Use the materials named in the first step below. Open lesson resources.
2. Start the work
Read the chromatography notes in the PLTW course shell and define chromatography and elution.
Show all 5 required steps
- Read the chromatography notes in the PLTW course shell and define chromatography and elution.
- Explain why GFP glowing under UV light marks where the target protein is.
- Diagram a protein binding to a column and then eluting in a chosen fraction.
- Predict which fraction should glow if purification worked.
- Submit a labeled chromatography diagram as PLTW tracker evidence.
Lost your place? Reopen today's GFP and chromatography record. Find the last completed evidence ID, check it against the claim ceiling, and continue with the first unfinished step rather than restarting the whole task.
Check your work before submitting
- You'll be able to explain how GFP marks the target protein.
- You'll be able to describe how chromatography separates and elutes proteins.
3. Turn in your work
DueCheck Schoology- Hand in
- Labeled chromatography diagram showing protein binding, wash, elution, fraction collection, and GFP signal prediction.
How to submit and name your file
Use the submission route shown on today's today's page.
In Schoology, open your course and the assignment for this lesson. Attach your file, select Submit, and check that it appears in the submission.
PDF upload helpYou get two school days for every day you were absent, so this deadline moves with you.
Find this lesson's Schoology assignments
These are existing assignments for your section. Follow the directions in the assignment you are working on; this list does not add new work. Check Schoology for each deadline.
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How this lesson connects
Keep using what you learned last class: Genetic evidence can support an inheritance, sequence, or expression explanation, but penetrance, regulation, environment, family structure, and test uncertainty can limit the conclusion. Today: A planned study connects its question to defined variables, controls, sampling, measurement, and analysis so the resulting data can support a bounded and reproducible conclusion.
Optional: listen or watch a unit review▸
Need help? Warm-up, timing, and directions▸
💡 Big idea: A planned study connects its question to defined variables, controls, sampling, measurement, and analysis so the resulting data can support a bounded and reproducible conclusion.
- 0-10Read notes; define chromatography and
- 10-25Explain GFP reporter mechanism; annotate UV signal
- 25-45Diagram binding to column resin and wash steps
- 45-58Add step to diagram; label target fraction
- 58-70Predict which numbered fraction glows; write prediction
- 70-80Submit labeled diagram to tracker; confirm lab readiness
- • Tomorrow you run the column, so today you need to understand what it is actually doing.
- • GFP is the tracking beacon: wherever it glows, your is.
- • is the separation engine: it holds your while everything else washes away.
- • Understanding affinity and is a Lab SOPs and Molecular Technology skill on the WebXam.
- • GFP fused to the target fluoresces green under UV light, revealing which fraction contains the protein.
- • Affinity uses a resin that binds the target specifically, letting other proteins wash through.
- • uses a competing molecule or change in buffer conditions to release the bound target .
PLTW connection and today's work
Open Activity 4.1.3 GFP Protein Purification in myPLTW and diagram how GFP and affinity chromatography track and separate the target protein.
Today's stopping point: Purification overview exit ticket should be done (Monday); chromatography diagram due today.
PLTW activity titles identify the course connection. If your account will not open, use the posted materials for today and tell Mr. Mendoza. Do not mark an online activity complete unless you completed it.
Course connection
- Activity 4.1.3 Protein Purification
Use the turn-in directions at the top of this page. Do not create a second submission unless your teacher asks for one.
Show another explanation or a smaller first step
Need help? Choose a starting point
Lesson resources: reading, slides, and vocabulary▸
The deck carries the prior idea forward, lets you inspect an analogy, maps the rule to biology, and ends with the same evidence decision and exit ticket used on this page.
Generated from this lesson's canonical data with a red-team citation check.
Genetic evidence can support an inheritance, sequence, or expression explanation, but penetrance, regulation, environment, family structure, and test uncertainty can limit the conclusion.
A planned study connects its question to defined variables, controls, sampling, measurement, and analysis so the resulting data can support a bounded and reproducible conclusion.
A research team lays out its question, variables, controls, sampling plan, measurement record, and analysis before deciding what the data support.
- Which variable is changed or compared?
- Which conditions and measurements must stay consistent?
- Which conclusion is inside the study's evidence boundary?
Define variables, controls, sampling, units, and the analysis plan before interpreting a result; analysis cannot repair biased or inconsistent measurement.
A well-organized classroom study can still be limited by , measurement quality, confounding, and the population represented.
- • Question and variable cards map to the study design.
- • Control and measurement cards map to fair, reproducible data collection.
- • The conclusion card maps to a bounded claim supported by the analysis.
Driving question: Our target is invisible and mixed with thousands of others in a clear liquid, so how do we know where it is and how do we pull it out without pulling out everything else?
What you already know: Genetic evidence can support an inheritance, sequence, or expression explanation, but penetrance, regulation, environment, family structure, and test uncertainty can limit the conclusion.
New idea: A planned study connects its question to defined variables, controls, sampling, measurement, and analysis so the resulting data can support a bounded and reproducible conclusion.
Visual or model: F1. F1. A lesson illustration or teaching diagram for GFP and chromatography. Use it with E1-E3; it is a model or context image, not experimental or patient data. What to notice: Trace the labeled testing, treatment, or biological process and identify where evidence limits the decision.
- Observe or measure the relevant feature in today's lesson.
- Organize the observation with a stable evidence ID.
- Apply this rule: Define variables, controls, sampling, units, and the analysis plan before interpreting a result; analysis cannot repair biased or inconsistent measurement.
- Choose the option the evidence supports and state the limit of the conclusion.
Real biomedical example: Today the medical interventions team uses GFP and to make a bounded evidence decision. A statistical difference or trend does not automatically establish practical importance, causation, generalizability, or freedom from bias.
What the evidence supports: E1-E3 and F1 support the daily take-home when the response meets the stated success criteria.
What it cannot prove: The package does not support claims beyond this lesson's or any real patient diagnosis.
Use it now: Choose one decision option. Cite E1 and E3, then explain how the rule connects the evidence to your choice.
Go further, optional: The source links below are optional enrichment. Every fact required for today's local evidence decision appears in this lesson package.
National Institute of Standards and Technology is the source this lesson's claim is checked against: What is experimental design?
Limit: A statistical difference or trend does not automatically establish practical importance, causation, generalizability, or freedom from bias.
Define variables, controls, sampling, units, and the analysis plan before interpreting a result; analysis cannot repair biased or inconsistent measurement.
Limit: A well-organized classroom study can still be limited by , measurement quality, confounding, and the population represented.
You can explain how GFP marks the target .
Limit: E3 defines the classroom product or success criterion. It is not independent scientific evidence and cannot justify a clinical or causal claim.
PLTW-GEND-2026-12-09 · Simulated classroom evidence scenario
Your role: medical interventions team member
Decision: Your team must decide what the evidence from today's lesson supports before submitting the notebook record named on today's page.
- • Run a UV check on the wash fractions too, since we cannot yet prove the target did not leak out early.
- • Collect the later fractions, because the target stays bound to the resin while the wash carries contaminants out first.
- • Watch the first tubes off the column, since the target was loaded first and should drip out early.
Response: State one choice, cite at least two evidence IDs, explain the rule that connects them, and add one limitation. Submit it as the notebook record.
Claim ceiling: Today's evidence supports a classroom claim about today's lesson. It cannot prove causation, diagnose a real patient, or justify action outside this room.
Reason for review: Your team must decide what the evidence from today's lesson supports before submitting the notebook record named on today's page.
Context: Today the medical interventions team uses GFP and to make a bounded evidence decision. A statistical difference or trend does not automatically establish practical importance, causation, generalizability, or freedom from bias.
- • T1: Read the notes in the PLTW course shell and define chromatography and .
- • T2: Explain why GFP glowing under UV light marks where the target is.
- • T3: Diagram a binding to a column and then eluting in a chosen fraction.
- • T4: Predict which fraction should glow if worked.
- • T5: Submit a labeled diagram as PLTW tracker evidence.
- • E1: National Institute of Standards and Technology is the source this lesson's claim is checked against: What is experimental design?
- • E2: Define variables, controls, sampling, units, and the analysis plan before interpreting a result; analysis cannot repair biased or inconsistent measurement.
- • E3: You can explain how GFP marks the target .
Measurements: Use only the measurements, units, graph, or counts supplied in today's task. No additional patient measurement is implied.
Figure finding: Teaching diagram for GFP and . Trace the labeled testing, treatment, or biological process and identify where evidence limits the decision. This is a teaching model, not patient or experimental data.
Uncertainty: This is a composite classroom scenario. Missing history, measurements, or confirmation tests remain unknown and limit the conclusion.
Mean = sum of values / number of values. Median = middle ordered value. Range = maximum - minimum.
For 2, 4, 4, and 10: mean = 20 / 4 = 5, median = 4, and range = 10 - 2 = 8.
Mean, median, and range keep the measurement unit. Order the values before finding the median.
Calculate the requested summary for today's supplied values, then write what it reveals and what it hides.
Students often think A polished answer about GFP and is trustworthy even when its evidence source, comparison, or limitation is missing.. The trap: Presentation quality cannot raise the evidence level. A statistical difference or trend does not automatically establish practical importance, causation, generalizability, or freedom from bias.
Definitions:
- Chromatography: a method that separates proteins by how strongly they bind to a material (resin) in a column.
- Elution: releasing the bound target protein from the resin so it flows out into a collected fraction.
Why GFP helps: GFP is fused to the target protein and glows green under UV light, so wherever the green glow is, the target protein is. That lets me see an otherwise invisible protein.
The steps, labeled:
1. Load: the protein mixture is added to the column; the target binds the resin while other proteins start to wash through.
2. Wash: buffer rinses away the unbound contaminants.
3. Elute: a change in buffer releases the target protein into the collected fractions.
Prediction: if purification worked, the elution fractions are the ones that should glow green under UV, because that is where the target protein comes off the column.
This model shows the level of evidence and organization needed to complete: Completes the chromatography task: a labeled diagram showing protein binding to the column, washing, elution, fraction collection, and a GFP signal prediction.
- Date and label the entry.
- Record the procedure, observation, or design decision clearly.
- End with what the evidence means and the next step.
Keep the structure. Replace the question, facts, measurements, and evidence. Then recheck units, vocabulary, and whether the conclusion goes beyond the evidence.
Also due today: Attach your labeled chromatography diagram to your PLTW tracker and submit it to Schoology.
- CER:
- Claim, Evidence, Reasoning: make a claim, back it with evidence, explain your reasoning.
- SOP:
- Standard Operating Procedure, the exact steps to follow (especially in a lab).
- Tracker:
- Your PLTW progress log where you record completed evidence.
- myPLTW:
- The PLTW course site where you do the online activities. Find it in Clever with your Microsoft sign-in, right next to Schoology.
Classroom documents for this lesson are posted in Schoology. Open Clever, then Schoology, and find each one by the name shown on its card.
Open this when the class reaches this activity and use it to complete the required lesson artifact.
Placement rationale
Matched and quality control by path:Medical-Interventions/Unit-4_When-Organs-Fail/4.1_Manufacturing-Human-Proteins; keywords:protein purification, gfp, . Score 150. Visibility: student-schoology (student-facing resource; link through Schoology rather than local path).
Open this when the class reaches this activity and use it to complete the required lesson artifact.
Placement rationale
Matched and quality control by path:Medical-Interventions/Unit-4_When-Organs-Fail/4.1_Manufacturing-Human-Proteins; keywords:protein purification, gfp, . Score 150. Visibility: student-schoology (student-facing resource; link through Schoology rather than local path).
Use this if you were absent, got stuck, or need another pass before you submit the lesson artifact.
Placement rationale
Matched and quality control by path:Medical-Interventions/Unit-4_When-Organs-Fail/4.1_Manufacturing-Human-Proteins; keywords:gfp, . Score 142. Visibility: student-schoology (student-facing resource; link through Schoology rather than local path).
Sign in to Clever with your district Microsoft account to open Schoology or myPLTW. Follow today's posted steps. If myPLTW will not open, use the posted alternative and tell Mr. Mendoza. Turn in your completed work through the Schoology assignment.
Practice: try a question, then check your answer▸
Claim ceiling for this check: Today's evidence supports a classroom claim about today's lesson. It cannot prove causation, diagnose a real patient, or justify action outside this room.
A student makes a certain conclusion about GFP and chromatography from one classroom result. What must the student add before the conclusion is defensible?
Write an answer and pick a confidence to unlock the key.
Missed class or ready for more?▸
Run this before you touch the bench. It is built from the real lab procedure, so the decisions you make here are the ones you will make with the equipment in your hands.
What today's skills lead to. These are real health-science careers this course builds toward. Tap one to see, on the US Department of Labor's O*NET site, what the job actually involves, what it pays, and how fast it is growing.
The bench work needs equipment you do not have at home. Do the thinking half now: read the procedure, write your prediction, and set up your data table so it is ready.
Back in class. Ask Mr. Mendoza for the class data set, or for a bench slot to run it yourself. Do not submit a Notebook check with invented numbers.
Class still runs. Complete the online activity above (it's self-guided). Need the concept taught without a teacher? Use this authoritative explainer:
Genetic Science Learning Center: Genetics basics and proteinsYou've passed Unit 2, so the optional extra-credit track is open. Complete reserved-unit work from home, including virtual labs, for extra credit. Each item shows its correct submission route.
Open the extra-credit track- CompleteEvery required part of the artifact is present, nothing left blank.
- AccurateThe science and the data are correct and match the evidence.
- Scientific reasoningYou explain your claim with evidence and reasoning (CER), not just an answer.
- Professional communicationClear, organized, labeled, and written the way a clinician or scientist would.
- SubmittedGo to Schoology to turn this in. Submit one PDF. Put your first and last name in the document header. Name the file: FirstName LastName - Assignment Title - YYYY-MM-DD.pdf. If you cannot get in, see Mr. Mendoza. Do not skip the work.
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